Murray to play aggressively at US Open

Andy Murray has said that he will play more aggressive tennis at the US Open this year as he believes the style of play is more appropriate for the conditions.

In July this year 79% of MurraysWorld readers voted that Murray needed to play more aggressively and at Wimbledon this year Larry Stefanki accused Andy Murray of being a "pusher", claming his defensive tennis was preventing him from winning a Grand Slam.

I'll try and come forward more in this tournament, because I think the conditions allow that. Obviously it depends on the way your opponent is playing, but the serve is the one big thing. I back myself to break serve at least once or twice in a set, so I give myself a lot of chances if I serve well.

Against both Roddick and Verdasco a couple of points here and there could have changed it. Against Verdasco I had a break point in the fifth set to go up 4-2 and I didn't take it. Against Roddick I had a set point in the third set and at the beginning of the set I was up 40-0 to break and keep the momentum on my side [after winning the second set to level the match]. Sometimes that just happens.

As for the Gonzalez match I don't think that's one I was really expected to win on clay – or I wasn't at that stage – so I don't think that that was a terrible loss.

I might have been expected to win the other two, but I think that I've played well in the Grand Slams this year. I could have done a couple of things a bit better, but unfortunately it comes down to a few points sometimes and I came up against guys who played great. There's not a whole lot you can do about that.

I think general consensus is an agressive Andy is better but whether he should constantly try and force such a change in his game is a different story. It might cause problems for a natural counter-puncher to make such a big change. If he had a magic wand, he probably would just make himself a natural aggressive player

Encouraging news, thanks Mark and I hope he manages to do it. I don't see why he can't eventually train himself to play more aggressively on certain specfic occasions when his judgement tells him he needs to change tactics because his opponent is excelling himself and playing above his game. It would add another dimension to his own game and I feel it would certainly increase his chances of winning those illusive matches. It has worked in the past when he has played aggressively. I just want him to win his first GS and the other will follow.

I'm glad to see these quotes from the man himself. I just hope he doesn't go too OTT and attack all the time, although I'm sure he won't. Against someone like Del P, who he'd most likely meet in the QFs, aggression would be a good tactic - against Rafa too. Del P has been getting better and better against him with each meeting, so he needs to reassert his dominance.

I'm optimistic now, must admit I wasn't so sure before reading this. I was worried that he was still relying on the passive style in the biggest matches, when the one occasion that he really took it to the opponent in the biggest match of his career (Rafa in the SF last year), aggression proved to be the key to the win.

I'm glad to see these quotes from the man himself. I just hope he doesn't go too OTT and attack all the time, although I'm sure he won't. Against someone like Del P, who he'd most likely meet in the QFs, aggression would be a good tactic - against Rafa too. Del P has been getting better and better against him with each meeting, so he needs to reassert his dominance.

I'm optimistic now, must admit I wasn't so sure before reading this. I was worried that he was still relying on the passive style in the biggest matches, when the one occasion that he really took it to the opponent in the biggest match of his career (Rafa in the SF last year), aggression proved to be the key to the win.

Come on Muzza, this is it!

This has to be it... Seriously... it just does. Actions speak a whole lot louder than words, though.....

I'm glad to see these quotes from the man himself. I just hope he doesn't go too OTT and attack all the time, although I'm sure he won't. Against someone like Del P, who he'd most likely meet in the QFs, aggression would be a good tactic - against Rafa too. Del P has been getting better and better against him with each meeting, so he needs to reassert his dominance.

I'm optimistic now, must admit I wasn't so sure before reading this. I was worried that he was still relying on the passive style in the biggest matches, when the one occasion that he really took it to the opponent in the biggest match of his career (Rafa in the SF last year), aggression proved to be the key to the win.

Come on Muzza, this is it!

Well said, Joe I feel he especially needs to be aggressive against del P whose game is improving in leaps and bounds. Like Andy a couple of years ago he has to gor into his body and improve its strength, then there will be no stopping him and Andy will need added aggression.

Del P didn't have the puff to beat a patient Andy in 3 never mind 5! Best tactic against him is to keep him running as much as possible in the opening few sets and he's putty for the end of the match! No danger there!

It's not that he needs to play aggressively all the time in my opinion, it's just that he needs to be less defensive at the right times and against the right opponents. There is still room for defense in his game, it has worked up until now against a lot of players, he just needs to be willing to start aggressively against certain types of players

Del P didn't have the puff to beat a patient Andy in 3 never mind 5! Best tactic against him is to keep him running as much as possible in the opening few sets and he's putty for the end of the match! No danger there!

Not so sure about this - Pony was tired after two back to back tournaments. He did last five sets against Federer at the French.